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2B Bolder Podcast : Career Growth and Insights from Women in Business, Tech & Sports · Mary Killelea, Host

#150 How Tamara Day Built Her Brand From Driveway Sales To HGTV

·43 min·4 clips
Tamara Day reveals how she kept renovating after her husband's income dropped 90% during the 2008 crash.
The episode begins with host Mary Killelea introducing the podcast and guest Tamara Day, a designer known for Bargain Mansions on HGTV. Tamara recounts her childhood on a farm in Salina, Kansas, where she developed a DIY mentality and love for design from babysitting in other homes. She describes buying her first short-sale home with her husband and renovating it nights and weekends, falling in love with design. During the 2008 financial crisis, with three young children and her husband's income dropping, she took on more work herself, leading to the 'driveway days' of painting furniture from garage sales. Tamara started hosting open-house sales twice a year, drawing around a thousand people, which grew her reputation and design business. She explains how a casting opportunity arose through her brother's connection, eventually leading to her HGTV show after a chance meeting. Tamara discusses the confidence challenges of stepping into television, dealing with public recognition, and the support of her crew. She shares insights on hiring, including the story of hiring her manager Libby after receiving constructive feedback. The conversation shifts to brand evolution, from 'Growing Days' to 'Tamara Day' for SEO reasons, and expanding into product design with partners like Quorum and Stylecraft. Tamara talks about balancing creative intuition with business strategy, her changing definition of success to prioritize family time, and unlearning beliefs about leadership. She offers design tips for small budgets, such as color drenching and intentional drop zones, and promotes her book 'Laidback Lux'. The episode concludes with Tamara defining 'to be bolder' as pushing boundaries in design, leadership, and taking family vacations.

As heard by us

A steady conversation about visibility, confidence, and staying grounded as attention grows.

The conversation follows Tamara Day, the award-winning designer and host of Bargain Mansions, as she talks through what it looks like to let commitment come first and confidence catch up later.

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Why you'd press play

Watch a designer build a brand while staying grounded as visibility grows.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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